Wouter "Wally" De Backer (born 21 May 1980 in Bruges, Belgium), better know… Read Full Bio ↴Wouter "Wally" De Backer (born 21 May 1980 in Bruges, Belgium), better known by the stage name Gotye, is an indie pop singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Victoria, Australia.
Backer was born in Belgium, but moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia when he was two. Originally a member of the indie band Downstares, Backer began performing under the name Gotye in 2001 when the band disbanded. Aside from his solo work, De Backer has been a member of the indie band The Basics since its formation in 2002.
Gotye's second album Like Drawing Blood was featured by Triple J in May 2006 and was voted Number 1 in the listeners poll of the Best Album of 2006 . The album was also nominated for a J Award that year. Two tracks from that album, Learnalilgivinanlovin and Heart's A Mess, were ranked 94 and 8 respectively in Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2006. Like Drawing Blood has been certified Platinum.
In September 2006, Gotye was nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Music Award (ARIA award) for best independent release for his album Like Drawing Blood, and won 'Most Outstanding New Independent Artist' at the inaugural Australian Independent Record (AIR) Chart Awards.
In 2007, Gotye won the ARIA for best male artist. As a result of the publicity of the nomination, Like Drawing Blood re-entered the ARIA album chart and was named iTunes UK Album of the Year in 2008.
In 2009, Heart's A Mess came in at #77 in Triple J Hottest 100 of all time, voted by the Australian public.
Amidst the lead-up to Gotye's third album, Like Drawing Blood re-entered the ARIA charts in mid 2011, peaking at its highest ever position of 13.
After the success of Like Drawing Blood, De Backer was able to establish a permanent home, still in Melbourne's South East. In 2010, De Backer set up a recording studio in a barn at his parents' farm and set about recording tracks for his third album. He released a new single, Eyes Wide Open, in mid-October 2010, online and on 10" vinyl. The single received generally positive reviews and reached number 25 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010. It was also shortlisted for the 2011 APRA Music Awards in the Song of the Year category.
In late March 2011, De Backer revealed the album's title to be Making Mirrors. This title was inspired by an artwork, painted by De Backer's father in the 1980s, discovered by De Backer amongst old bills and newspapers in his parents' barn, which was later edited in Photoshop to become the album artwork. "The mirror reflects on artwork and it is all very related to self-reflection and introspection on the album."
On 19 May, it was announced that the album would be released on 19 August 2011, with the album launch the following day at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Graphic Festival which will feature animators and a 10-piece orchestra as part of Gotye's performance. De Backer also released a follow-up single to Eyes Wide Open titled Somebody That I Used to Know, which was released 6 July 2011, and debuted at #27 on the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. The single became something of a sensation, quickly moving up the ARIA singles chart despite comparatively low airplay to many other charting singles at the time. The track was further boosted by endorsements from well-known celebrities Ashton Kutcher and Lily Allen via Twitter, exposing Gotye's music to their millions of followers. The single has gone on to reach 6× Platinum (420,000 units sold) status.
On 15 July 2011, it was announced that Gotye's single Somebody That I Used to Know had come third in the 2011 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition. As part of the prize, Gotye won a spot to perform at Song Summit 2012 at Darling Harbour, 26–28 May 2012.
On its first week of release, Making Mirrors came in at number one on the ARIA Australian album chart, making Gotye the first Australian act to simultaneously hold both the number one single and album since Silverchair, who achieved the same feat in 2007.
On 11 October 2011, it was announced that Gotye had been nominated for seven ARIA Awards. Due to the release date restrictions of the eligibility period, Making Mirrors could not be nominated, and the seven nominations all related to the single Somebody That I Used to Know. Gotye was nominated for Highest Selling Single, Single of the Year, Best Pop Release, Best Male Artist and three awards in the ARIA Artisan category: Best Video (Natasha Pincus), Engineer of the Year (Francois Tetaz) and Producer of the Year (Wally De Backer). On the same day the nominations were revealed, the winners of the Artisan categories were announced, with Gotye and the album personnel winning all three. On 27 November 2011, Gotye took out three of the four remaining ARIA Award nominations. Single of the Year, Best Male Artist and Best Pop Release.
"Somebody That I Used To Know" has become an international hit, reaching #1 in Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom, Poland, Austria, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Germany, and also reached #1 on the alternative radio airplay charts in The United States and Canada (on the pop charts in those countries, the song has reached #5 and #11, respectively).
Backer was born in Belgium, but moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia when he was two. Originally a member of the indie band Downstares, Backer began performing under the name Gotye in 2001 when the band disbanded. Aside from his solo work, De Backer has been a member of the indie band The Basics since its formation in 2002.
Gotye's second album Like Drawing Blood was featured by Triple J in May 2006 and was voted Number 1 in the listeners poll of the Best Album of 2006 . The album was also nominated for a J Award that year. Two tracks from that album, Learnalilgivinanlovin and Heart's A Mess, were ranked 94 and 8 respectively in Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2006. Like Drawing Blood has been certified Platinum.
In September 2006, Gotye was nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Music Award (ARIA award) for best independent release for his album Like Drawing Blood, and won 'Most Outstanding New Independent Artist' at the inaugural Australian Independent Record (AIR) Chart Awards.
In 2007, Gotye won the ARIA for best male artist. As a result of the publicity of the nomination, Like Drawing Blood re-entered the ARIA album chart and was named iTunes UK Album of the Year in 2008.
In 2009, Heart's A Mess came in at #77 in Triple J Hottest 100 of all time, voted by the Australian public.
Amidst the lead-up to Gotye's third album, Like Drawing Blood re-entered the ARIA charts in mid 2011, peaking at its highest ever position of 13.
After the success of Like Drawing Blood, De Backer was able to establish a permanent home, still in Melbourne's South East. In 2010, De Backer set up a recording studio in a barn at his parents' farm and set about recording tracks for his third album. He released a new single, Eyes Wide Open, in mid-October 2010, online and on 10" vinyl. The single received generally positive reviews and reached number 25 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010. It was also shortlisted for the 2011 APRA Music Awards in the Song of the Year category.
In late March 2011, De Backer revealed the album's title to be Making Mirrors. This title was inspired by an artwork, painted by De Backer's father in the 1980s, discovered by De Backer amongst old bills and newspapers in his parents' barn, which was later edited in Photoshop to become the album artwork. "The mirror reflects on artwork and it is all very related to self-reflection and introspection on the album."
On 19 May, it was announced that the album would be released on 19 August 2011, with the album launch the following day at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Graphic Festival which will feature animators and a 10-piece orchestra as part of Gotye's performance. De Backer also released a follow-up single to Eyes Wide Open titled Somebody That I Used to Know, which was released 6 July 2011, and debuted at #27 on the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. The single became something of a sensation, quickly moving up the ARIA singles chart despite comparatively low airplay to many other charting singles at the time. The track was further boosted by endorsements from well-known celebrities Ashton Kutcher and Lily Allen via Twitter, exposing Gotye's music to their millions of followers. The single has gone on to reach 6× Platinum (420,000 units sold) status.
On 15 July 2011, it was announced that Gotye's single Somebody That I Used to Know had come third in the 2011 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition. As part of the prize, Gotye won a spot to perform at Song Summit 2012 at Darling Harbour, 26–28 May 2012.
On its first week of release, Making Mirrors came in at number one on the ARIA Australian album chart, making Gotye the first Australian act to simultaneously hold both the number one single and album since Silverchair, who achieved the same feat in 2007.
On 11 October 2011, it was announced that Gotye had been nominated for seven ARIA Awards. Due to the release date restrictions of the eligibility period, Making Mirrors could not be nominated, and the seven nominations all related to the single Somebody That I Used to Know. Gotye was nominated for Highest Selling Single, Single of the Year, Best Pop Release, Best Male Artist and three awards in the ARIA Artisan category: Best Video (Natasha Pincus), Engineer of the Year (Francois Tetaz) and Producer of the Year (Wally De Backer). On the same day the nominations were revealed, the winners of the Artisan categories were announced, with Gotye and the album personnel winning all three. On 27 November 2011, Gotye took out three of the four remaining ARIA Award nominations. Single of the Year, Best Male Artist and Best Pop Release.
"Somebody That I Used To Know" has become an international hit, reaching #1 in Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom, Poland, Austria, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Germany, and also reached #1 on the alternative radio airplay charts in The United States and Canada (on the pop charts in those countries, the song has reached #5 and #11, respectively).
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Gotye Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Gotye:
A Distinctive Sound This will teach them how to groove All right, let's get…
Baby Live from day to the next day Try to satisfy the…
Board with this game I'll be waiting for you Waiting for you (Here in this place…
Bronte Now your bowl is empty And your feet are cold And your…
Coming Back You've been gone much longer than you Ever said you had…
Dig Your Own Hole And you know it's the wrong way round Still you can't…
Don Hey What's your name? Don't worry Don't be afraid We won't h…
Easy Way Out Seventeen seconds and I'm over it Ready for the disconnect P…
Eyes Wide Open With our eyes wide open, we With our eyes wide open,…
gotye somebody that i used to know Now and then I think of when we were together Like…
Heart Pick apart The pieces of your heart And let me peer inside…
Hearts a Mess Pick apart The pieces of your heart And let me peer inside L…
Here in This Place Here in this place The stars will protect us with their…
I Feel Better There was a time I was down, down I didn't know…
In Your Light Get up in the morning I can't keep it in I'm falling…
Learnalilgivinanlovin If yer always tryin' to get to the top You don't…
Loath to Refuse If you don't want me now Then you can't have me…
Making Mirrors Dreamt of a doorway That opened to everything And I'm reachi…
Night Drive When you're feeling down I'm comin' round To pick you up And…
Noir Excursion A handsome stranger Gave me a ride He had a suitcase full…
Only Thing I Know I'm living with your memory In the attic in my mind And…
Out Here in the Cold Darlin' don't leave me out here in the cold I'm begging…
Out of My Mind You loved me yesterday But said that you just couldn't stay …
Puzzle With A Peice Missing Tiny pieces come to me every day Still I wait Things are…
Save Me In the mornings I was anxious It's better just to stay in…
Smoke and Mirrors You're a fraud and you know it But it's too good…
Some Body That I Used To Know Now and then I think of when we were together Like…
State of the Art When the cotillion arrived We threw out the television I'm M…
Thanks for Your Time You have been placed in a queue But your call is…
The Only Thing I Know I'm living with your memory In the attic in my mind And…
the only thing i know(full album version I'm living with your memory In the attic in my mind And…
The Only Way Calm down now baby The end of the journey's in sight You've…
The Only Way (Original version from the Gotye album Calm down now baby The end of the journey's in sight You'v…
True to You I'll be true to you (x4) Another former lover man Come craw…
Waiting for You Forgotten how long I've been waiting And as always I'm stuck…
Want to Want Me What do you want? What do you want from us? To ask…
Wonder Why You Want Her Lost In her face, Caught On the thought of a taste, Sold On …
Worn Out There were days when I would say: Â??I could give you…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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life is hopeless
This goes surprisingly well together
Austy_bossty_YT
I Agree
Lilfire5k
It’s 1:40 Am
And I’m here listening to this
How do I feel about this?
This was ducking worth it, Amazing mashup Daniel.K
Seventy Four
23:55 and gotta get up early tomorrow.. work and stuff..
Marcyverse
oh awesome im here at 1:30 am lmaoo
Cody Johnson
1:23am as I watch this
The Salt Miners
Est gang
DK | DΛVID
amazing mix of songs every new one i hear amazes me more
Hilolila Mashups
Niiiiice. Yeah, "Somebody That I Used To Know" has a lot of possibilities and good combinations.
Hilolila Mashups
not to mention "Enemy" 😅